By James Innocent
The government of Central Equatoria has begun efforts to restore electricity supply in Yei following a technical assessment that revealed major damage to the town’s power infrastructure.
During an inspection visit to Yei, Samuel Bullen Laku, Director General for Lands, Physical Infrastructure, Roads, and Bridges, said the delegation had been assigned by the state governor to oversee the revival of electricity services in the area.
According to Laku, the assessment established that two generators supplying power to the town were malfunctioning, while several electricity poles had collapsed in different locations, disrupting the distribution network.
The findings were later presented to the governor, who directed immediate intervention measures to restore the service.
Laku said spare parts for the damaged generators had already been procured and transported to Yei to facilitate repair works on the generators operated by the Yei electricity company.
He added that engineers from Juba are expected to arrive in Yei to begin technical repairs aimed at restoring a stable electricity supply.
In addition to the generator repairs, the state government has delivered 30 new electricity poles to replace damaged infrastructure in affected parts of the town.
Speaking during the visit, Richard Lugala, chairperson of the electricity committee, said the committee remains committed to ensuring proper management of the power system once operations resume.
He emphasised the need for accountability and effective supervision in the management of electricity services.
Meanwhile, David Kwaja expressed readiness to mobilise technical personnel to begin repair works, noting that eight technicians who participated in the original installation of the power lines are already on the ground.
Kwaja explained that earlier repair efforts had stalled because of shortages of materials needed to fix damaged sections of the electricity network, including fallen poles near Sobe Street and other areas that require inspection.
At the same time, Luwate Justin Raphael, a board member of Yei Electricity and Chairperson of the Yei River County Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged concerns raised on social media regarding the electricity restoration project.
He called for stronger security measures to protect the infrastructure and appealed for logistical support, including the repair of an office vehicle needed for field operations.
Also speaking on the matter, Hillary Adeba emphasised the importance of employing qualified technical personnel to manage the electricity generators, describing their operation and maintenance as costly and highly specialised.
Adeba further encouraged the technical team to adopt an advanced payment system to reduce consumer defaults and praised the state government for prioritising the restoration of electricity services in Yei at a time when demand for electricity continues to rise due to population growth.
He warned that the generators require experienced engineers to ensure proper operation and to prevent repeated mechanical breakdowns that could affect the long-term stability of the power supply in the town.